Hydraulic oil well lift



July 2l, E931. E, CURNUTT 1,815,399

HYDRAULIC/OIL WELL LIFT Filed May 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l E/mef Caf/WMZ? Syvum/vbo@ mm3 n l l I July 21, 1931. E. CURNUTT HYDRAULIC OIL WELL LIFT Filed May 16, 19:50 2 Sheets-Sheet A2 Patented .lilly 21, 193,1v

UNITED y `STA ELMER CURNUTT, DF GARNETT, KANSAS HYDRAULIC OIL WELL LIFT Application filed May 16,

This invention aims to provide novel means for operating a pump or other device, and the invention especially, aims to provide V novel means whereby the movements of the piston can be controlled automatically.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that typel to which the present invention appertains.

`Witl1 the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in t-he details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodime'nt of the invention herein disclosed, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in elevation', a. device constructed vin accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Figure 2- is a vertical longitudinal section through the base;

y Figure 3 is a fragmental elevation, wherein portions of the invention are viewed at right angles to the showing of Figure 1;

Figure 4`is a horizontal transverse section taken in a plane slightly above the base;

Figure 5 is a` vertical sectional view in a plane at righ@ angles to the cutting plane in Figure 2; i lf.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the position of the transfer passage and attendant parts;

Figure 7 is4 a horizontal section taken through the cylinder and adjoining portions of the device,'some parts being disclosed in '4 plan.

- In carrying out the invention, there is pro# vided a frame of any desired form, prefera-v bly embodying a base 1 in the form of a tI-ay supported on legs 2 or in any other manner. On the base 1 there is a block` 3 which forms a valve casing and a mounting for many movable parts of the device. The block 3 is connected at its upper end to the foot plate 5o 4 of a main cylinder 5 circumscribed by a .extended into the block 3. Ports 12 are 1930. Serial No. 452,973.

formedin the block 3 and in the foot plate 4 ot' the cylinder 5. At their upper ends, the port-s 12 communicate with the chamber 7, and at their lower ends the ports 12 communie5 cate with the bores 11 of the cylinders 10. Check valves 14 are mounted in the ports 12, and close toward the chamber 7. Angular bores 15 are formed in the block`3. `The bores 15 communicate at one-'end with the 70 bores 11, and` at their upper ends the'bores 15 communicate with the interior of the cylinder 5. In the bores 15 are located check valves 16 which close away from the cylinderl A U-shaped passage 17 is formed in the 75 block 3 and in the foot vplate'4, as shown in' Figure 6. At one end the passage 1700mmunicates with the interior of the cylinder 5,- and at its opposite end, the passage 1-7 communicates with the chamber 7.

A valve 18 under the control of an operatoi' regulates the eective area of the passage 17. The valve`18 may be screw-threaded into vthe block 1 and capable of being advanced intoxone branch of the passage 17, as 'dis- 85 closed in Figure 6. The block 3 has a bore 19 extended inwardly from one side, and one branch of the passage 17 intersects the bore 19. In the bore 19, a rotary valve 20, in the form of a rod, if desired, is mounted for 90 vrocking movement, and the rotary valve 20 has aport 21 adapted to be brought into and out of registration with the passage 17 in a way which will be clear when Figure 6 of the drawings is noted.

1 On the outer end of the rotar valve 20 is secured an arm,22 having an e ongatedeye y 23. A retractile spring 24 is connected at one end to the arm22 and at its opposite end to an anchor piece 25 on the base l.' The 100 ,the pitmen 41,

anchor piece 25 is so located with respect to the point of attachment between the spring 24 and the arm 22 that when the arm22 is swung downwardly far enough the spring 24 will impart a downward springing movement to the arm, whereas, when the arm 22 is swung upwardly far enough, then the spring 24 will have an upward pull on the arm. The arm 22 has vertical swinging movement between stops 26 and 27, the stop 26 being located on the block 3. and the stop 27 being located on one side of the frame.

A plunger rod 28 is mounted to reciprocate in the eye 23 on the arm 22. The lower end of the plunger rod 28 is secured to a bracket 31 which projects laterally from the piston rod 9. A compression spring 32 is disposed about the plunger rod 28. The lower end of the compression spring 32 rests on the bracket 31. A washer 33 is slidably mounted on the plunger rod 28 and rests on the upper end of the spring 32. The lower end of a compression spring 29 rests on the arm 22, the compression spring 29 being disposed about the plunger rod28. An adjustable abutment, such as a set collar 30, is supported on the plunger rod 28 above the spring 29. A spring detent 34 is secured to the base 1 and has a lower shoulder 35 and an upper shoulder 36. The shoulders 35 and 36 are in the path of the free end of the arm 22.

A shaft 37 is ournaled for rotation in the base 1 and extends transversely of the base. The shaft 37 is journaled for rotation, also, in a bearing 38 mounted on ,one end of the base 1 and extended into the base. The shaft 37 may be rotated in any suitable way, for instance through the instrumentality of a wheel 39, mounted on one end of the shaft 37. The shaft 37 has cranks 40 located within the base 1. Pitmen 41'are pivoted to the cranks 40, and the pitmen 41 are pivoted to the outer ends of plunger pistons 42 mounted to reciprocate in the bores 11 of the cylinders 10 and of the block 3. Thebase 1, being in the form of a tray, is adapted to contain a lubricant which will oil the shaft- 37,

and the plunger pistons 42.

In practical operation, the shaft 37 is rotated rapidly throughthe instrumentality of the wheel 39 or its equivalent. The cranks 40 and the pitmen 41 impart right line reciprocation to the plunger pistons 42, by way of the pitmen 41. The pistons 42 draw oil or other liquid out of the chamber 7 through the ports 12, past the check valves 14, the check valves closing, so that the pistons 42 can force the oil or other liquid through the ports 15 past the check valves 16,-into the cylinder 5. Pressure that is created underneath the main piston 8 will cause .the main piston 8 to rise, carrying with it the rod 9.

As the rod 9 rises the bracket 31 'is carried upwardly, along with the plunger rod 28, the washer 33, and the spring 32. The washer 33 comes into contact with the eye 23 on the arm 22 and raises the arm 22 until the arm 22 at its free end engages the lower shoulder 35 on the spring detent 34. Here the upward swinging movement of the arm 22 is temporarily arrested, and the spring 32 is put under increased compression. Ultimately, the spring 32 overcomes the action of the spring detent 34, and the free end of the lever 22 moves upwardly, with a sudden motion, past the detent 34 and into engagement with the stop 26. When the arm 22 is swung upwardly, as aforesaid, the rotary valve 20 is turned, and the port 21 is brought into registration with the passage 17 of Figure 6. Thus, there is established a communication by way of the passage 17 between the cylinder 5 and the chamber 7.

The oil or other liquid in the cylinder 5 noiv flows from the cylinder 5, beneath the pis' ton 8, into the chamber 7, and the piston 8, together with the rod 9, moves downwardly by gravity. When the piston 8 and the rod 9 have moved downwardly far enough, the abutment 30 engages the upper end of the spring 29and compresses the spring, the free end of the arm 22 being in engagement with the upper shoulder 36 on the spring detent 34. The swinging movement of the arm 22 is arrested for a time, until the action of the spring 29 overcomes the resiliency of the detent 34 and, then, the arm 22 will swing downwardly, with a quick motion, assisted by the spring 24, until the arm 22 comes to rest against the stop 27. By this operation, the valve 20 is turned, until the port 21 in the valve is out of registration with the passage 17, as shown in Figure 6. The liquid then is withdrawn by the plunger pistons 42 from the chamber 7 and introduced into the cylinder 5, as has been described hereinbefore. The interchange of fluid between the chamber 7 and the cylinder 5 can be regulated by moving the screw valve 18 in or out. In this way, the rapidity of the movement of the piston 8, and the stroke of the piston, may be regulated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a motor of the class described, a frame comprising a dish-like tray and a block mounted on the bottom of the tray, a first cylinder mounted vertically on the block and provided with a circumscribing wall defining an annular chamber about the cylinder, the block having a horizontal cylinder bore and having a port leading downwardly from the chamber to said cylinder bore, the block having another bore leading downwardly from the irst cylinder to the cylinder bore in the block, an upwardly-closing check valve in the port, a downwardly-closing check valve in said other bore,l the block being provided with a U-shaped passage communicating at one end with the chamber and at its other end with the 'first cylinder, a rocking shaft-valve journaled in the block and controlling thel passage, a' gravity-depressed piston slidable in the first cylinder, a rod connected to the piston and slidable through the block, a piston slidable in the cylinder bore of the block and extended into the tray, a shaft journalel in the tray, mechanism for connecting the shaft to the last-specied piston, the tray constituting a lubricant-holder for the lastspecied shaft, the last-specified piston/and said mechanism, and means for operating the shaft-valve from the rod of thel gravity-depressed piston.

2. A motor'of the class described, a vertical cylinder, `a gravity-depressed `-piston slidable in they cylinder,`a rod connected to the piston, av chamber for actuating Huid, a conduit communicating with'the cylinder and with the chamber, a pump in the conduit and constituting means for transferring fluid from the chamber to the cylinder, to raise the piston, a member having a passage communicating with the cylinder andthe chamber and constituting means for returning Y fluid from the cylinder to the chamber, a

rockin `valve controlling the passage, an arm' secure to the valve, a bracket on the piston rod, a plunger rod slidable in the arm and secured in the bracket, an abutment on the plunger rod above the bracket, a compression spring on the plunger rod between the abutment and the bracket, a compression spring on the plunger p rod land. resting at its lower end on the arm, aneabutment on the plunger rod above the last-specified spring, means for holdin the last-specified abutment in adjusted positions along the plunger rod, a spring detent having upper and lower shoulders, means for mounting the detent with the lower shoulder in the path ofthe arm as the arm moves upwardly, and with the upper shoulder in the path of the arm as the arm moves downwardly, and spring `means for imparting sudden movement to the arm as it leaves each shoulder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have-hereto aixed my signature.

Y ELMER CURNUTT. 

